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Villarroel in his studio after 9/11 Rodrigo Villarroel was 13 years old on September 11, 1973. The Chilean born chef recalls sitting in class when the Principal announced his school would be cancelled for the remainder of the day. It was a day he will never forget. This was the day the “El Palacio de…

Kailua-Kona’s hometown hero and big wave surfer Shane Dorian has taken his success in surfing and utilized his fame to establish a surf competition for Hawai‘i Island’s youth. Now in its 23rd year, the Shane Dorian Banyan Keiki Classic reflects Shane’s commitment to the Kona community and local groms (young surfers), ensuring his status as…

I juggle too many things in my life. My motto was always, “Say yes and show up.” It’s been an excellent way to live my life since moving to Hawaii. However, I feel I may have reached a saturation point. Saying yes and showing up is a no-fail, awesome way to be successful, and I…

The other day a woman I respect and admire from afar (in other words, we know each other, but not real well), wrote to me and said my writing was fearless and helped her get through a difficult time. She also said she wanted to apologize to me for thinking my life was perfect. Holy…

Nicholas Iwamoto survived a harrowing brush with death. This is the Victim Impact Statement he wrote to the judge in 2016 in an attempt to encourage the judge to not release his assailant from the state mental hospital. Read his story in entirety here. To the Honorable Judge Garibaldi, The thought of allowing myself…

Born in 1982, I chew on pens and swallow ink. The blood of a writer runs deep through my veins. Black ink spills over my lips and no matter how hard my mother tries, she will never be able to scrub away the stains of a dream. At three, my fingers run wild. Dipped in…

Mark Twain said Hawaiʻi was the loveliest fleet of islands that lay anchored in any ocean. It’s a difficult statement to argue with as Hawaiʻi is known as the world’s paradise. Hawaiʻi draws not only beach lovers and surfers to its island oasis, but also landlubbers seeking unparalleled hiking experiences—and there’s no more beautiful place…